The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-02-03
[coNTINuED FROM LAST WEEK.
Snow BOUND AT EAGLES
BY BRET HARTE.
CHAPTER III.

house was deserted, but there was an unusual
activity on the floor above, and the sound of
heavy steps. There were alien marks of
dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage,
and on the first step of the stairs a spot Of
blood. With sudden genuine alarm that
drove her previous adventure from her mind,
she impatiently called her sisters name
| There was hasty yet subdued rustic of
skirts ON tho staircase, and Mrs Hale, with
her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremo
niously into the sitting room, closed the door
and leaned back against it, with faint smile
She had crumpled paper in her hand.
sDon't be alarmed, but read that FIRST she
said, handing her sister the paper. ut was
brought just now"
Kate instantly recognized her brothers dis
tinct hand. She read hurriedly. "The coach
was robbed last night; nobody hurt. I've
lost nothing but q days time. as this business
will keep me here until tomorrow, when
Manuel can join me with fresh horse. No
cause for alarm. AS the bearer goes out Of
his way to bring you this, see that. he wants
for nothing" H.. .ss. u ..'-.-.> '..'
"Well" said Kate, expectantly. -.
"Well, the bearer was fired upon by the
robbers, who were lurking on the ridge. He
was wounded in the leg. Luckily he was
picked up by his friend, who was coming to
meet him, and brought here as the nearest
place. He's upstairs in the spare bed in the
spare room, with his friend, who won't leave
his side. He won't even have mother in the
room They've stopped the bleeding with
Johns ambulance things, and now, Kate,
here's a chance for you to show the value Of
your education in the ambulance class The
ball has got to be extracted. Here's your OPP
| portunity." $3.50
Kate looked at her sister curiously. There
was faint pink flush on her pale cheeks, and
her eyes were gently sparkling. She had
| never seen her look so pretty before.
"Why not have sent Manuel for a doctor at
once2" asked Kate.
1.-THE nearest doctor is fifteen miles away,
and Manuel is nowhere to be found. Per-
haps he's gone to look after the stock. There's
some talk Of snow; imagine the absurdity
| of It'll"
"But who are theyg"
"They speak of themselves as Friends as
if it were a profession. The wounded one
was passenger, suppose"
"But what are they like?" continued Kate.
| II suppose they're like them ALL"
Mrs. Hale shrugged her shoulders.
"The wounded one, when he's not fainting
away, is laughing. The other is a creature
with a mustache, and gloomy beyond ex-
preston" 49,. s.- .-s
"What are you going to do with thema"
said Kate.
"What should I dos Even without Johns
letter could not refuse the shelter of my
house to wounded and helpless man. I
shall keep him, of course, until John comes.
Why, Kate, really believe you are so pre-
JUDGED against these people you'd like to
turn them out. But forget! It's because
you like them so well. Well, you need not
fear to expose yourself to the destinations of
the wounded Christy Minstrel-I'm sure he's
that-or to the unspeakable one, who is shy
ness itself, and would not dare to raise his
| eyes to you" ..-
There was timid, hesitating step in the
passage. 1t paused before the door, moved
| tentions in the gentlest of taps.
ats him; Pm sure of it," said Mrs. Hale,
with suppressed smile. .....:
Kate threw open the door smartly, to the
extreme discontinue of tall, dark figure
that already had skunk away from it. For
all that he was a good looking enough fell
low, with mustache as long and almost as
o. poxo ,Nf hall
noticing also that his hand, which was ner-
vously pulling the mustache, was white and
thin. ...... ..-. ...-.
Excuse me-" he stammered, without rails
ing his eyes, u was looking for-for-the old
lady. II beg your pardon. didn't know
that you-the young ladies-company-w
here. intended-I only wanted to say that
my friend" He stopped at the slight
smile that passed quickly over Mrs. Hale's
mouth and his pale face Redeemed with an
angry flush. ...
II hope he is not worse" said Mrs. Hale,
with more than her usual languid gentle
ness any mother is not here at present.
Can Lean tre-this is my sister-do as well?n
Without looking up he made q constrained
recognition of Hates presence, that, embar-
raised and curt as it was, had none of the
| awkwardness of rusticity.
"Thank you; you're very kind. But my
friend is little stronger, and if you can lend
me an extra horse I'll try to get him on the
Summit tonight"
"But you surely will not take him away
from us so soon2" said Mrs. Hale, with q
languid look of alarm, in which Kate, how
ever, detected certain real feeling. await
| at least until my husband returns to-mor-
row."
"He won't be here tomorrow said the
stranger hastily. He stopped, and as quickly
corrected himself. "That is, his business is
so very uncertain, my friend says"
Only Kate noticed the slip; but she noticed
also that her sister was apparently uncon-
scious of it "You Think" she said, shat
Mr.. Hale may be delayedF
He turned upon her almost brusque,y. II
mean that it is already showing up there; y
he pointed through the window to the cloud
Kate had noticed; Sif it comes down lower
in the pass the roads viii be blocked up.
That is why it would be better for us to try
and get on at onceo
aBut if Mr.. Hale is likely to be stopped by
snow so are you," said Mrs. Hale playfuIly;
@and you had better let Us try to make your
friend comfortable here rather than exposs
him to that uncertainty in his weak con-
dition We win do our best for him.
MY sister is dying for an opportunity TO
show her skill in surgery" she continued,
with an unexpected mischievousnesst that only
added to Hates surprised embarrassment.
@Aren't you, Katel"
Equivocal as the young girl knew her
silence appeared, she was unable to utter the
simplest polite evasion Some unaccountable
impulse kept her constrained and speeches.
The stranger did not, however, wait for her
reply, but, casting swift, hurried glance
around the room, said, @Its impossible; we
must 60 In fact, I've already take7 the lib
erty to order the horses round. They are al
the door now. You may Se sertan.,n he
added with quick earnest aes suddenly lift,
| ing his dark eyes to Mrs. Hale. and as rapidly
withdrawing them, shat your horse win b